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Whether he's preparing for a pitch or diving for a ground ball, Brett Lawrie's intensity is palpable each time he takes the field.

That familiar energy shone through Sunday during the Blue Jays' 9-6 loss to the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre, both in his sprint around the bases following his two-run home run in the fifth inning, and in the ground ball he sailed over first baseman Adam Lind's head for an error in the third.

Now that the 22-year-old has gone through a full season in the majors, it might be time to scale back his vivacity, at least according to Blue Jays manager John Farrell.

"What Brett's understanding is how physically taxing a 162-game schedule is," Farrell said Sunday before the game. "Once you go through that full cycle, you're able to look back and say: 'Okay, there are times when I can be a bit more under control, but not sacrifice who I am as a person and a player.' "

For Farrell, it's all about balance, and Lawrie hasn't quite found it yet.

After hitting nine home runs in 43 games with the big-league club last season, the Langley, B.C., native has 11 this year in 79 more appearances; he finished 2011 with four triples, one more than he has so far.

Farrell believes Lawrie's intensity might have something to do with the dip in production.

"You're trying to find that effort level that's optimal to let his natural abilities play out, and that's where his energy maybe took away from that consistent swing pattern he showed last year," he said.

"Coming out of 150 at-bats a year ago, I think there was more of a projection for extra-base hits and the ability to drive the ball more (this season). He took his contact point a little deeper in the strike zone and that took away from that."

As part of his year-end interviews with each player, Farrell met with the young third baseman Sunday morning to discuss these issues, among others.

"This isn't the first time he's heard it," he said. "Because he's a high-energy player, sometimes those subtleties, those small adjustments, he's got to feel and work through (himself) rather than being told: 'Hey, do this.' "

Fixing the problem will be a work in progress.

"It doesn't always translate immediately," Farrell said. "Brett's got strong beliefs, which is a good thing, and through being consistent with him, through constant communication with him, that's where you make headway.